Miatta
He was watching Yvette dance and the look on his face was one of interest. I could not hide my displeasure as I wore my heart on my sleeve most of the time. I searched for Addy in the crowd and found her sitting beside Ramona in their assigned space. I waved at her but she wasn't looking in my direction so she didn't see me. Once Group Black was done, they bowed together before the royal family and returned to their site. Yvette winked at Lucas and the buffoon caught it with a stupid grin. I almost threw up my undigested meal.
The winners were to be announced later on by the Alpha himself after deliberating with the few selected judges. In the meanwhile, meals were served on clean leaves for the commoners and wooden bowls for the royal family. It was also my cue to leave before I broke a wooden bowl over Lucas’ head. I had only taken two steps to my getaway when I heard him call my name in an annoying sing-song manner.
“Mi-a-tta,” he sang, folding his arms across his chest. “Where are you off to?”
I suppressed my anger and beamed forcefully. “I would like to speak to Addy now.”
He tutted immediately, shaking his head sideways in disagreement. “Tonight, you are not allowed to mingle with slaves. You must be beside me in case I need your assistance.”
“But do you need my assistance right now?” I pressed on, unwilling to watch him flirting with my nemesis. He frowned and pushed his unfinished meal away from before him. I had only eaten a little despite how ravished I was, my temper the death of me.
“You know what? As a matter of fact, I do need your assistance. Sit down.”
I didn't like the tone he was using with me but I could not do a thing about it. I was in the midst of his people and insubordination was out of the question. Eyes were on me and I could not mess this up. I reluctantly assumed my place by his side, almost red with detest towards him. Strangely, tears threatened to run down my cheeks. I was upset and my supposed mate could not tell from my attitude. Weren't we supposed to be telepathic to each other's feelings or something like that? But he cared less, ogling half-naked bitches instead.
“I'm done with my meal and I will like you to pour me some wine from that gourd.” He held up a wooden cup and waited for me to do his bidding. I eyed the wine gourd despicably and there were the strange tears again, welling in my eyes. I had been so stupid to believe I was something special to him. I had let him touch me, allowed him to coax emotions from me that I had never shown towards anyone else and immediately we were in the open, he was back to the arrogant Lycan Prince I knew. Lady of Honour indeed, I swore under my breath. He was a deceitful prick and his title for me meant nothing.
I curtsied low enough to feign humility and took the heavy gourd in my hands. He lowered his cup the more and I tilted the gourd, carefully filling his cup with the foaming wine. When I was done, I took a step backwards and to my surprise, he gulped down the wine in a go. He extended the cup to me again, voicelessly requesting a refill. Just then, I heard Yvette's cackle behind me, laughing among her group. She was looking extraordinarily beautiful in her dancing costume that I paled in the lavender dress. Perhaps it was the reason why my mate had immediately lost interest in me the moment she got into the dancing circle. Strips of fabric were wrapped around her legs from her knees to her ankles. Shells were woven into the plaits made in her long hair and she was simply breathtaking. I hated her but I wasn't one to deny perfection when I saw it and Yvette was perfect. I, on the other hand, was lacking.
“Don't keep me waiting, Miatta; it's insulting,” Lucas fired rudely and pushed his cup in my direction again. I nodded and filled his cup for the second time, keeping the wine just underneath the rim. Yvette was closer; I could hear her silly voice spinning some tales to her listeners. When I felt her presence behind me, automatically, I straightened my back and prayed that she would move along without stopping. She didn't.
“My Lord,” she greeted Lucas and curtsied in a manner that put her cleavage on display. Her group members made the same gesture and Lucas actually smiled at them, basking in their attention. Yvette nudged me aside with a shoulder, pretending like I wasn't there.
“Yvette, play nice. Miatta is my Lady of Honour tonight.”
“And when have you ever liked nice girls, my Lord?” Yvette twisted a lock of her hair around a finger and glanced at Lucas from beneath her full, sooty lashes. She rotated slowly on the balls of her heels, presumably making Lucas aware of how close to naked she was. As an answer to her question, Lucas pulled her closer by the hand and let her have my seat by his side. The gourd was not as heavy as the knot in my throat. Yvette made a sneer at me, upturning her lower lip in mockery of me.
“So, my Lord,” she continued, pulling invisible fluff off his attire. “Which group did you think performed the best tonight? What group are you rooting for?” When she found no fluff, she drew closer to him and brushed her naked thigh against his legs. They were acting like I wasn't even there, Lucas especially.
“Well, I must confess that I wasn't interested in the dancing until your group came in. You were wonderful tonight, Yvette, the best dancer as always. Pour me some more wine, Miatta.” He directed his last comment to me and I stepped forward to him. I bent the jar and poured some into his cup. Instead of drinking it as I had expected, he handed it over to Yvette, who received it with smiles and blushing. He held out another cup and I poured into that one, my tears breaking through their boundary. My wolf was upset at well, as she watched our mate pamper another female in front of me. My hands began to shake and my vision failed me, black spots dotting the atmosphere around me. A cold haze grew in my belly and I was suddenly not feeling so good. Before I could steady myself, the gourd slipped out of my grasp and cracked open, its contents spinning on the damp floor. The loud, shattering noise attracted literally everyone's attention and covered in shame, I sped off into the night.